AUSTIN, Texas—As he hints at a possible second bid for president, Texas Gov. Rick Perry is contending with an unusual criminal investigation into whether he abused his authority, a case that legal experts say has virtually no precedent in modern Texas history.

A grand jury was impaneled in April to consider a watchdog group's complaint filed last year. It alleged the Republican governor may have violated Texas law by withholding...

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Will an Investigation Derail Rick Perry's 2016 Bid?

As he hints at a possible second bid for president, Texas Gov. Rick Perry is contending with an unusual criminal investigation into whether he abused his authority in his home state. WSJ's Nathan Koppel reports on the News Hub. Photo: Getty Images.